A few more...

of our fun-filled, family weekend! Since we were all in town we decided at the very last minute that we should take the babies to Santa that way Nana and Papaw could witness their excitement first-hand. Just check out Carters face...it says it all!!

Actually, it wasn't that bad. He did fine with Santa except every couple of seconds he would turn his head to look at Santa and the tears would start again and again and again. We just couldn't keep from laughing. Poor thing...he was such a good sport and these pictures are priceless.

Here are Carter and Keira cruising around the living room. They had so much fun playing together!! It was so good having them at the house and watching the two play together...they are going to get into so much trouble someday together! Carter was teaching Keira how to walk with his walker....she was a pro by the end of the weekend. We kept saying, "If only she could teach him to talk" well....Monday night, Carter started saying ba-ba-ba-ba-ba at the dinner table. Soooo cute!! Thanks Keira!

Over the past month Carter has really taken off walking with his little walker. He just absolutely loves it and it provides hours of entertainment daily! He is getting so big. Between him starting to eat big boy food and learning to walk, I fear that my "baby" days are numbered. Every time I turn around he is learning something new! It is hard to believe that nine months has already gone by so quickly. At his appointment the other day Carter was 29 3/4 in long (90th %) and 17 lbs 12 oz (10th %)...so he is long, lean, and healthy as can be! Dr Hodson said he looked great and that she said she would see him for his 1 year check-up....1 year, can you believe it?!?

Happy Turkey Day!

We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! It was so nice being able to spend time with family and reflect on all that we have to be thankful for not only today but everyday. What a blessing it is to have good health, great friends, and a happy family! Just a few pictures of our little man being such a big boy! Here he is eating cheese and green beans on his very first Thanksgiving!! A few more of his big boy favorites include: wheat bread, cooked carrots, carrot souffle, mashed potatoes and any things else he can feed himself!!

On Friday, we continued a Mennel Girls Family Tradition by starting the day off with a little Early Bird Shopping. This year, Carter made the trip too! I know it sounds crazy but hey he wakes up that early everyday, why not take him along. So, with Carter in his Santa hat and PJ's, we shopped 'til we dropped. Then we all met up for dinner before the annual Indianapolis Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony downtown! It was so much fun taking Carter to see something that I have always enjoyed. I hope in years to come that he will enjoy it as much as I have over the years.

Us and our babies! Holly, Ceili, Shawna, Keira, Jamie and Carter! We just wish Ash, mom and dad could have come along. Ash had a school project she had to work on so they stayed behind to keep her company...I guess there is always next year!!

Around the house!

Over the weekend, Matt and I were busy at work getting the yard and house ready for winter. You know, mowing the lawn one last time, trimming bushes, cleaning windows...that kind of stuff. Well, I had just cleaned the windows and was starting to cook dinner when I looked up to see Carter standing at the back door just watching Matt cut the grass. It was the sweetest thing. Carter must have stood there for 5 minutes just turning his little head from side to side watching Matt mow the yard back and forth! I finally got Matt's attention and Carter was so excited to see daddy walk up to the door and play with him through my freshly, streak-free, just been cleaned window pane. Oh well, glass looks so much better with tiny little hand prints on it anyways....it's the sign of a happy home!

Like I said, we have been busy around the house. Here are a few of Carter's new favorite things to do. He loves finding my cabinet where he will personally inspect each and every piece of Tupperware before he so gracefully dumps it onto the floor and then he is off to bigger and better things! Carter also has a new obsession of crawling over to the dryer and playing with all the clothes inside. He especially enjoys when the clothes are still wet! Who would have thought that the best toys are never bought, they are simply things that have been there all the while just waiting to be discovered by two little hands and the eyes of a child.

Just a few more!

Just a few more pictures of our little Punkin's 1st Trick-or-Treat!

The three of us enjoying a nice fall day, taken by my dear sister Holly!

Just another one of our lovely costumes!!